Tire-armor.



C. H. MADDOX.

TIRE ARMOR.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR.1,1909.

Patented 1111.111110.

Wim zoom @Revenus o CHARLIE Mannoia, or camion, Missoula.

TITRE--ARMOR.i

arrasa.

specification of 'Iier-ters Patent.

rateat'eu ren. i. raie.

Application filed March 1, 19 D9. Serial No. 480,577.

To all whom it muy concern.:

Be it known that l, Ciminna 1L MADDoX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Lewis and State of vMissouri, have invented a new and useful Tire-Armor, of which the following is a specification.

-llt is the object of the present iu'ventiointo provide an improved construction of tire armor of that class in which the armors are made up of a number el linked plates, which by reason of their peculiar connection one with another, provide-for ready vapplication ofthe armor to the tire and adapt it to readily conform tothe contour of the tire .when 'applied thereto.

It is one object of the invention, furthermore, to provide a continuous and practically unbroken protective surface for the tire and this result is accomplished by so Aforming the plates comprising the arrnor that their ,edges will mutually contact;n at all times.

` types of plates employed in constructing the ther novel features ot' the invention will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings and also from the specific description which is to follow.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a segment of an automobile or similar tire showing the armor ernbodying the invention applied thereto, parts ot' the armor being broken away. Fig'Q is' an edge View ofthe fragment of the wheelshowingl the armor applied. Fig. '3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the tire and armor on the line 3-,-3 OF ig. 1, and Fig. Il is a group view showing the three armor as an entirety.

As is clearly shown 1n the drawings, the' tire armor embodying the invention is coinprised of a plurality of series of plates coin .nected in the manner of links and of these armor plates, there arethreetypes, the plates.

of vone type being arranged 1n an intermediate annular series, the plates of another t pe .beingarranged in two -series one locate to each side of the intermediate series, and the lates of the thirdtype being arranged also 'in two series and located one series to each side of the plates ot' the last series,

ln .the drawings, the tire is indicated by the reference character A, and the plates which comprise the intermediate series are indicatedV each by the reference numeral 5,

the plates. which comprise the second Linentioned seriesare indicated each by the reference numeral G, and theY plates which coinprise the third mentioned series are indicated each by the reference 'numeral 7. Each ol.: the plates 5 has its side or lateral edges parallel and is formed with two lateral slots 8 one of which extends in parallel relation with respect to each side edge "ot the said plates. Each of these plates of the intermediate series isoalso formed with a slot 9 which extends in a direction at right angles with respect to 'the direction of extent of the slots 8 first mentioned, and adjacent one end edge of the plate in which it is formed, the said end edges of the plates ot the intermediate series being very slightly convex as lshown in the group viewilnd the edge view oit the drawings. Each oi? the plates 5 ot the intermediate series isliorrned also with a tongue lO which bent back upon itscll.v as clearly shown in Fi l, 2 and el oi the drawings, these tongues 10 being located or formed at that end edge of the rcslviective plate 5 opposite the end edge adjacent which the slot 9 is formed.

It will be ,understood from. the :foregoing description, that the tongues l() oithe elements 5 engage each with the slots l) of the next adjacent element 5 and that in this manner, the said plates are connected td gather ina continuous series. it will le noted from an inspection ot the drawings and from the foregoing description that these plates 52 are slightly coiicavosconvex so as to contorni to the tread olf the tire and `thereby rest i'lat against the same.

Each of the plates G ot the second mentioned series has its end edges converging in the direction oit' its outer lateral edge, the

saidlateral edge describing substantially a right line, and the opposite or inner lateral edge of these plates is slightly convex clearly shown in Fig. Ll of the drawings, and eaclroi" the said plates G is termed, parallel to Vits outer lateral edge lwith. 'a lateral slot ll and parallel to one of its cud edges -with a slot lil and at the other end edge,

the plates are formed. each `with a tongue 13 which 1s bent upon itself' as shown in the drawings and a similar tongue lit is also provlded'at the inner lateral edge el? the said plates. ""'lfhe tongues 13 of all ot the plates 6 are engaged through the slots 1Q of the next adjacent platesG` so that the said plates will be connected in a continuous series, and the tongue '114;- of each of the )lates ti engages throughione et the lateral .s ots El of the corselves as at 16 and inserting the said edges of adjacent plates through elongated linksor loops 1T which serve to pivotally connect the p'lates 7 in a continuous series as stated.

It Will be under-stood of course that while the armor whenappli'ed, is in the form of an annulus, it is to be separatedat some point in its circumference and a suitable connection provided whereby it may be disposed around a tire to be protected, the

I clamp being of course closed after such disposal of the armor.

A convenientA means for connecting the separated .ends of the armor is illustrated to the right in Fig. 1 of the drawings, this means being embodied in suitable sleeve-like lugs lS'which are formed two upon one of -the plates 7 and one -upon the plate 7 at the other end of the armor, the single lugs fitting between the two first mentioned lugs with its bore in registration With the bores ofthe two iirst mentioned lugs, and a bolt 19 which is passed through the three lugs and has threaded upon its end a nut 20 which may be removedto permitof with- .drawal of the bolt and separation of the It will be understood ends of the armor, that inasmuch as these lugs 18 are `formed only on the plates 7 the connection between the ends of the armor will not be subjected to such considerable strain as it would be if the lugs were formed upon the plates 5 and 6 also.

What is claimed is Tire armor comprising an intermediate series of connected plates', each of the said plates having lateral slots and a slot at one end and a tongue at the other end, the

tongues of all of the plates being engaged' through the slots at the cnds of the next adjacent plates, and series of connected plates arranged to each side of the intermediate series of plates, each of the plates of the last mentioned series being provided with a lateral tongue inserted through the lateral slot at. the adjacent side ofl the corresponding plate ot' the first mentioned series, each of the plates o'teach last mentioned series having a tongue at one end and a slot formed at the other end, the tongues of all of the plates of one series being engaged through the slots in the next adjacent plate of the same series, each of the plates of the last mentioned series having a lateral slot, and a series of connected plates arranged one to each side of the last mentioned series, each of the plates of each last mentioned series having a lateral tongue engaged through the lateral slot of the corresponding plate of the series with which it is associated, elongated loops having the end edges of the last series vpassed therethrough whereby the plates of the said series are oonnected.`

` In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLIE H. MADDOX Witnesses:

F. A. ALBERTY, JAMES F. MCCUTCHAN. 

